Multiple switch device for connection with an electrical business machine



Aug. 6, 1963 H. HEUER 3,100,077

MULTIPLE SWITCH DEVICE FOR CONNECTION WITH AN ELECTRICAL BUSINESS MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 25, 1959 INVENTOR 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENI'OI? Aug. 6, 1963 H. HEUER MULTIPLE SWITCH DEVICE FOR CONNECTION WITH AN ELECTRICAL BUSINESS MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1959 Aug. 6, 1963 H. HEUER 3,100,077

MULTIPLE SWITCH DEVICE FOR CONNECTION WITH AN ELECTRICAL BUSINESS MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNVENfUE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 H. HEUER MULTIPLE SWITCH DEVICE FOR CONNECTION WITH AN ELECTRICAL BUSINESS MACHINE e 0 W W w w M U m: H MM IL HM I I Aug. 6, 1963 Filed Oct. 25, 1959 H. HEUER 3,100,077 MULTIPLE SWITCH DEVICE FOR CONNECTION WITH AN ELECTRICAL BUSINESS MACHINE Filed Oct. 23, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 6, 1963 PIC-3.5

INVENTO/P f; ZWJM s. W

Aug. 6, 1963 H. HEUER 7 MULTIPLE SWITCH DEVICE FOR CONNECTION WITH AN ELECTRICAL BUSINESS MACHINE Filed Oct. 23, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENI'OP Aug. 6, 1963 H. HEUER 3,100,077

MULTIPLE SWITCH DEVICE FOR CONNECTION WITH AN ELECTRICAL BUSINESS MACHINE Filed Oct. 23, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I00 110 m2 135 I54 /{M 705 N a, T735 ,3 10a 6, J 3 F167 2 I 5 f0? 3 I54 Mag 39. 10 INVENIUP Hm W M MULTIPLE SWITCH DEVHJE FUR CQNNEQTEUN WITH AN ELECTRLCAL EUSENESS MACHINE Hans Hester, Wilhelmshaven, Germany, assignor to Olympia Wei-ire A.G., Wiihelmshaven, Germany Filed Get. 23, 1959, Ser- No. 845,463 Claims priority, application Germany Oct. 27, W58 16 Claims. (Cl. 235-60) The present invention concerns business machines, as for instance, calculating machines, bookkeeping machines, typewriters and the like, which are capable of converting data transmitted thereto or produced therein, into electrical output signals representing such data. Usually, these data represent numbers composed of digits in consecutive order positions, and functions. The term func tion" will be used in this application to mean an information signal usually transmitted together with number data and causing the business machine to carry out a certain function, usually represented in a typed record by conventional symbols.

Usually in devices of this type, displaceable control elements are used which are operatively connected with operating elements of the business machine, the amount of displacement of these control means corresponding to the particular digits or functions that are to be converted into signals.

It has been found unsatisfactory that in known devices of the type set forth, the construction of series connected sliding contacts is rather involved in view of the necessity of securing safe functioning during continuous operation, the sliding contacts being constituted by comparatively strong spring members deemed necessary for establishing the required contact pressure. Moreover, in known devices the sliding contacts have to travel, during every single positioning movement, alternatingly over countermembers made of insulated material and conductive material which causes the contacts to become gradually contaminated by particles worn off of the insulating material. Also, the whole arrangement is space-consuming because the various sliding contacts and a control roller are mounted above each other. In addition, each operational cycle of the business machine must be interrupted for the duration of one rotation of the control roller because there exists a rigid coupling between the main operating means and the displaceable control means.

It has been proposed to avoid this loss of operational time by using an intermediate storage device into which the amount of displacement of each displaoeable control means is transmitted. Such an intermediate storage device is then constructed as a'matriX-type pin storage device arranged above the displaceable control means, the latter being provided for transmitting their respective displacement to associated storage device pins, with a control lug. These lugs serve to move or displace under certain operational conditions the above mentioned pins mounted above the control means. Although this type of arrangement eliminates the time less, the price paid therefor is considerable because the whole machinery is extremely involved and every possible position of the d-isplaceable control means requires as a counter part one contact establishing storage pin.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide for an arrangement in, or in connection with, a business machine for transmitting data in the form of electrical signals, however avoiding the difiiculties found in the prior art.

It is a second object of this invention to provide for an arrangement of the type set forth which is entirely reliable in operation, consists of a comparatively small number of components which require comparatively small space.

It is a further object of this invention to provide for an arrangement of the above mentioned type which can be constructed as a comparatively small and flat unit that can be conveniently arranged underneath of a normal business machine so as to serve as the supporting base structure thereof.

With above objects in view, an arrangement according to the invention in connection with an electrical business machine capable of converting data representing numbers composed of digits in consecutive order positions, and functions, transmitted to it or produced therein, into electrical output signals, comprises in combination, multiple switch means comprising a plurality of first contact strip means extending parallel with each other and each having an input terminal respectively associated with individual orders and functions contained in said data, a plurality of second contact strip means extending parallel with each other transversally of said first contact strip means and each having an output terminal respectively associated with individual digits and functions contained in said data, said plurality of second contact strip means being normally in a first position spaced a predetermined distance from said first contact strip means and being movable to a second position spaced a distance therefrom smaller than said predetermined distance, and a plurality of interconnecting contact carrier means extending paral lel with said first contact strip means and respectively associated therewith, each of said interconnecting contact means being located in the space between one of said first contact strip means, respectively, and said second contact strip means and being individually movable longitudinally along said first contact strip means between a plurality of selectable displaced positions, each position corresponding respectively to said digits and functions, each of said interconnecting contact carrier means carrying a first contact member in sliding contact with the associated first contact strip means, and a second contact member conductively connected with the first contact member and arranged to make contact with any one of said second contact strip means depending upon the dis placed position to which the particular interconnecting contact carrier means has been moved, provided that said second contact strip means are in said second position thereof; first operating means for moving said second contact strip means between said first and second positions thereof so that in said first position said interconnecting contact carrier means may be moved into said selectable displaced position out of engagement with said second contact member, while in said second position contact is made between selected ones of said first contact strip means and selected ones of said second contact strip means through said first and second contact me1nbers of interconnecting carrier means moved to selected displaced positions, respectivel second operating means for mechanically moving said interconnecting contact carrier means individually into said displaced positions depending upon corresponding operations of the business machine selectively furnishing said data composed of digits in consecutive order positions, and functions; signal transmitter means connecting in circuit between a source of electrical energy and said input terminals of said first contact strip means for consecutively furnishing an electrical impulse into each of said first contact strip means to be transmitted from there to said output ter minals of said second contact strip means; and output means connected respectively with said output terminals for delivering said impulses separately representing respectively said data.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, to-

gether with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation showing diagrammatically a portion of an electrical business machine operatively connected with signal transmitting means according to the invention, arranged in an attached base unit;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation, on a larger scale, of the signal transmitting unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a is a contact member assembly shown perspectively on a larger scale;

FIG. 2b is a partial perspective view of one of the interconnecting contact carrier members;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the entire signal converter arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view ot a portion of the multiple switch means for converting data into sig nals;

FIG. 4a is a partial cross-sectional view of a detail of the assembly shown in FIG. 4, on a larger scale;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a component of the signal transmitter means and the multiple switch means showing the contact strips thereof in the fiorm of a printed circuit in connection with the contact segments of the signal transmitter;

FIGS. 6a-6d are an exploded assembly view of the upper contact plate of the multiple switch means; and

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the whole arrangement according to the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1 which illustrates by way of example an embodiment of the invention, namely, the combination of a conventional electrical business machine, actually a calculating machine 2 with a signal transmitting arrangement as described below.

First of all, it can be seen that the signal transmitting arrangement 1 according to the invention is most conveniently constructed as a flat structural unit accommodated in a base 3 of the business machine 2 together with other components 4, 5, 6 not described herein. These other components 4, 5, 6 taken together with the herein described signal transmitting arrangement 1 constitute the elements of a central intelligence exchange arrangement as described in my copending application, Serial No. 848,321, filed October 23, 1959, with the title Central Intelligence Exchange Arrangement. The housing on base 3 is attached by means of bolts 7 and spacers 8 to the bottom plate 9 of the calculating machine 2. I The operative connection of the control members or interconnecting contact carrier means 10 of the signal transmitting arrangement 1 with the data furnishing elements of the machine 2, i.e. in this case with the actuators 11, consists in the bell-crank levers 112 and corresponding connecting rods 13, respectively. Of course, there is a plurality of levers 12 and rods 13 although only one set thereof is shown in the drawings. Each connecting rod 13 is pivoted at its end 13a about a pin 14 of the actuator 11 and is linked by a pin 13b with the associated bellcrank lever 12. An axle 16 is supported underneath the bottom plate 9 by two brackets 15 attached to the plate 9. All the be1l-crank levers 12 are commonly pivoted at the point 125 on axle 16 for being movable independently of each other, all levers 12 being arranged one next to the other and spaced from each other a certain amount along the axle 16. The arm 120 of each bell-crank lever 12 ends in a finger portion 12d which engages abuttingly the end of the associated displaceable cont-act carrier member 10 of the signal transmitting arrangement so that upon turning the associated bell-crack lever 12 in clockwise direction, the associated member 10 is displaced against the action of a corresponding return spring 16'.

The introduction of data into the calculating machine and the processing of such data takes place in a Well known manner not requiring description herein, and in such a manner that all the data introduced into the calculating machine and produced therein are stored, before being printed, in a pin carriage 18 by corresponding adjustment of the movable pins .17 thereof. By operating a function key (not shown) of the machine the operational cycle of the machine is started whereby the cam disk 19 is rotated in clockwise direction (arrow 20) about its axis 21. On account of this turning movement, the edge portion 19b of the cam disk 19 is disengaged from the roller 22 carried by the rocker bar 23 which now, under the action of the pull spring 24, carries out a turning movement in clockwise direction (arrow 26) about its axis 25. Hereby the actuators 11 which were until then held in normal position by the cross piece 23a of the rocker bar 23, are released so as to carry out a turning movement, under the action of the spring 27 in direction of arrow 26 about the above mentioned axis 25 until the tip 11a of one or more of the actuators 11 is stopped by hitting one of the above mentioned pins, for instance, the displaced pin 17a, shown in FIG. 1. This turning movement of the actuators 11 is transmitted by the connecting rods 13 to the associated bell-crank levers 12 and from there to the respective interconnecting contact carrier member 10.

After the machine 2 has completed one-half of its operational cycle, the cam disk 19 arrives in a position indicated in FIG. 1 by dotted lines so that the high end of the cam portion 19a reaches its point 28 of maximum cam action enabling it to actuate an associated microswitch 29. The actuation of the switch 29 initiates certrain operations which are described further below. The micro-switch 29 is mounted adjustably in horizontal direction, as shown by a double-headed arrow, on a bracket 31, and this bracket is mounted adjustably in vertical direction. as also indicated by a double-headed arrow, by means of screws 32a, 32b on the machine frame 32.

It can be seen from the above that the signal transmitting arrangement 1 is operatively connected with the data furnishing elements or actuators i the calculating machine 2 exclusively by the connecting rods 13 linked with the actuators 11 by means of the respective pivot pins 14. On account of this extremely simple operative connection, it is possible to attach or assemble the signal transmitting arrangement very conveniently as an accessory with a conventional series-produced calculating machine.

Signal Transmitting Arrangement The signal transmitting arrangement 1 mainly comprises a multiple switch arrangement according to the The Multiple Switch Device The control means of the signal transmitting arrangement 1 consist mainly of the displaceable contact carrier members 10 of the multiple switch device 32. The members 10 are displaceable by the action of the bellcran-k levers 12 against the action of the return springs 16 in their longitudinal direction depending upon the particular signal that is to be transmitted. Each displaceable member 10 corresponds to, or is associated with, one order of a multi-order number, or a function contained in the data to be transmitted, or again, in other words, each member 10 is associated with one of the actuators 1 1, respectively, of the calculating machine 2. For obvious reasons, in FIGS. 1 and 2 only one of the members 10 is shown and, for similar reasons, in FIG. 3,

only three of the members 10 are shown. Each of the interconnecting contact carrier members It) is provided with one of the contact member assemblies 37 shown on a larger scale in FIG. 2a. The assembly 3 7 is mounted on the particular member .16) by insertion into the recesses ltla, 10b, and Mia, as shown by detail in FIG. 2b. The lower contact member or contact point 3% is arranged to slide on a contact strip 39 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Actually, there is a plurality of contact strip means 3%, 3%, etc. as shown in 'FIG. 5, all carried by a carrier plate 40, all these strips being connected in a manner described further below with the contact segments, respectively, of a signal transmitter 136. The upper contact member or point 37b of the contact assembly 37 is structurally connected with the lower point 37a by a resilient portion 3-70, the cross piece 37d and a second resilient portion 3%, said portions being made of conductive material. Above the operational area of all the upper contact members 37b, a contact carrying plate 42 is arranged in a manner described further below. The plate 42 is provided with a plurality of contact strips 43 (-FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) which extend at 90 with respect to the direction of the contact strips 39 of the above mentioned plate it The first contact strips 39 are respectively associated with the orders of numbers contained in the data to be transmitted and will be called hereinafter order contact strips 39, while the second contact strips 43 carried by the plate 42 are associated with the digits contained in the data to be transmitted and will therefore hereinafter be called digit contact strips 43.

The contact carrier plates 42 and 46) are composed each of several layers as is indicated by FIGS. 5 and 6 and will be described in detail hereafter.

Arranged above the contact carrier plate 4-2 is a cover plate 44 which is supported by lateral Walls 45, 4-6 \of the multiple switch device 32. An electromagnet '47 is mounted on the cover plate 44, the plunger-type armature 4-8 whereof carries a screw 49 made of non-magnetic material. The stationary armature 51 is provided with a central bore 5% which permits the non-threaded portion 49a of the screw 49 to pass freely movable therethnough. The head 4% of the screw 49 abuts against the upper face 42a of the plate assembly 42. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the box-shaped housing 53- of the electromagnet 47 carries brackets 54a, 54b for suspending therefrom support springs 55a, 5512, respectively, which carry the plate assembly 42. The plate assembly 4 2 is vertically movable a distance indicated in FIG. 2 as a stroke distance 56 in downward direction against the action of the suspension springs 55a, 55b, and the plate assembly 4 2 is guided in this free movement by two guide pins 57a, 57b traveling in corresponding holes, as indicated in FIG. 3 at 57a, 5711, respectively, only the one guide pin 57b being shown in FIG. 2. As soon as the electromagnet 47 is energized, its armature 4b is pulled downwardly and consequently pushes by means of the screw '49 the plate assembly 42 in downward direction a distance indicated at 56 so that in such case each of the digit contact strips 43 is placed in contact with one of the upper or second contact members 3%, respectively, of the associated displaceable interconnecting contact carrier member ill which may be in any one of its displaced positions.

The interconnecting contact carrier members 10 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 2b, and 3 are made of synthetic material. They are assembled with the contact member assemblies 37 in the manner mentioned above. It will be understood that the recess 10*]: serves to accommodate the resilient portion 37 e which carries the lower contact member 37a. The lateral recess lilc accommodates the cross piece 37d of the member 37 and is so deep that the outer surface of the portion 37d is slightly recessed with respect to the neighboring outer surface of the member Ill. The upper recess 10a of the member 10 accommodates the resilient portion 370 which carries at its free end the upper contact member 3712 designed to cooperate with the digit 5 contact strips 43. The recess tlila is so-shaped that when the plate assembly 42 is moved to its lower position the upper contact member 3712 can yield elastically while being in contact with the corresponding digit contact strip 43.

It can be seen further that the contact member assembly "$7 is so matched with the dimensions and shape of the corresponding carrier member '10 that the member 37 holds itself in assembled position on the member 10. There are no screws or other assembly means required for this purpose.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, each of the carrier members 10 is provided adjacent to the recesses 10a, llllb, llllc along its upper edge surface 10d with notches we which serve lior registering and locking in position the members It! after they have been moved into a selected displaced position. The spacing between the center lines of the notches lllle corresponds to the spacing between the center lines of the digit contact strips 43. Similarly, the number of notches ltle corresponds to the number of digit contact strips 43.

FIGS. 1, 2 and '3 further show a bar member 58 of suitable cross section attached near the right-hand edge of the plate assembly 42, the bar 58 being called hereinafter registering bar 58. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the registering bar 58 is located above the first notch We of the various members Ill as long as the latter are in their normal or starting position. In this position of the members ill the contact member 37b is located op posite the first one of the digit contact strips 43 so that if now the plate assembly 42 is lowered, contact will be established between the order contact strips 39 and the first one of the digit contact strips 43 through the respective contact member assemblies 37. If the same movement of the plate assembly 4-2 is carried out while one or more of the displaceable members ltl have been moved into any other displaced position, then the lowering of the registering bar 58 will first of all lock the displaced members 1% in the respective displaced position and at the same time, a contact connection will be established by the respective contact member assemblies 3 7 between the particular order contact strip 39 associated with the respective displaced member 10 and an accordingly selected digit contact strip 43, respectively.

One end of each of the members 10 is provided with a shoulder portion 10 In normal position of the members 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2) the shoulders .1 01 thereof abut against a rubber bumper 60 held by an angle bar 61. The bumper 60 is a strip extending across all of the membars 10. The end of each of the members 10 opposite to the shoulder ill and marked mg is in abutting engagement with the above mentioned finger portion 12d of the respective bell-crank lever :12. Near the end Mg each member Til is provided with a hook portion 10 h which serves to hold the one end 16a of the above mentioned return spring 16'. The lower surface of the hook portion 1011 is in sliding engagement with the surface of the base plate 62, so that the portion 10h slidingly supports and spaces the member it from the plate 62. The other end 16b of the return spring =16 is attached to the base plate 62 by means of a corresponding hole 62a. The just described arrangement applies to all the members 10'.

The plan view given by FIG. 4 shows the position of the various displaceable members Ill next to each other. The members 10 are capable of sliding without any additional guide means within a space limited in lateral directions by the side walls 45, 46, respectively, of the multiple switch device 82. Dimensions are so chosen that just enough play is allowed between the neighboring members 10 that their sliding movement is possible with a minimum of friction. In order to avoid any interference between neighboring members Ill during their movement, the transversal width of the teeth ltli created by the notches We is reduced, as can be seen from FIG. 4a,

so that the teeth of neighboring members: 10 will not get into engagement with each other.

From the above and the illustrations, it can be seen that the displaceable carrier members 10' are arranged and supported in an extremely simple manner within the frame of the switch device consisting of the base plate 62 and the lateral Walls 45 and 46. Each one of the members 10 travels while being supported only by the portion 10/1 and by the lower contact member 37a of the respective contact member assembly 37. The selectable displacement of the members 10 is carried out and determined by the angular movement of the associated bellcrank lever 12 while the return to normal position under the action of the return spring 16 is limited and determined by the rubber bumper 60. In upward direction a shaped projection 63a of the slotted cover member 63 prevents a jumping or displacement of the members 10. It is believed that this whole arrangement of guide means for the total number of members 10 is a particularly advantageous feature of the multiple switch arrangement according to the invention. No particular maintenance is necessary for the members 10, they do not comprise parts subjected to substantial wear, the contact member 37a slides during the displacement of the particular member 10 only on the conductive material of the respective order contact strip 39 and does not have to exercise a particular pressure for establishing a contact, while the second contact member 37b is out of engagement with any other part until the respective member 10 has been displaced into a selected position, and contact with the contact member 37b is established only when the digit contact strips 43 of the plate assembly 42 are lowered into second position. The registration and the locking of the various displaceable members 10 in their respective displaced selected positions is carried out, as mentioned, by the registering bar 58 in a particularly simple and advantageous manner.

The above mentioned cover plate 63 is provided with slots as can be seen in FIG. 3 which serve as guides for the portions 120 of the bell-crank levers 12, the width of these slots of course corresponding suitably to the thickness of that portion of the levers 12).

FIG. 5 illustrates an advantageous arrangement of a combination of the order contact strips 39a to 390 with a portion of the signal transmitter '136, namely, its contact segments. It should be understood that the contact strips 39a to 39m serve for transmitting digits contained in the data to be transmitted, while the contact strips 391: and 3 90 serve for transmitting functions that may be contained in the data to be transmitted. Each one of the order contact strips 39a to 390 has, in this embodiment, not an input terminal and input wire connections as it appears in the diagram of FIG. 7, but is integrally connected with a corresponding contact segment 64a to 640, respectively, of the signal transmitter 136 as can be seen in FIG. 5. The contact strips and contact segments just mentioned and their respective connections are in this example parts of a so-called printed circuit produced actually by printing, by etching or other equivalent means known to the art, on a carrier plate 40. In order to keep the overall dimensions of the plate 40 within reason, a second group of circuit elements is printed or applied at the lower surface of the plate 40* as shown in FIG. 5, which, in this respect, has to be considered as an exploded assembly view. The connections or circuit portions on the lower side of plate 40 comprise the connections between the order contact strips 39a to 39] with the corresponding contact segments 64a to 64 respectively. It has to be understood that the points 39a to 39 are connected conductively with the points 64a to 641", respectively. Similarly, the point 390' is connectively connected with the point 640". Analogously, the points 6401 to 64f and 640 are connected conductively with the contact segments 64a to 64] and 640, respectively.

The function of the contact segments 63, 65, 66 and 67 will be explained further below.

The exploded assembly view comprised by FIGS. 6a to 6d illustrates the construction of the plate assembly 42 which is composed of a first plate 42" provided with printed circuits on top and bottom surfaces, a second plate 42" also provided with printed circuits on top and bottom surfaces, and an insulating plate 68 sandwiched between the plates 42 and 42". FIG. 3 shows a portion of the plate assembly 42. On the lower surface of the plate 42 are arranged the digit contact strips 43a to 43k and analogous contact strips 6% to 69 assigned to cooperate with the members 1%) handling functions. The strips 43a to 43k extend, as mentioned above, at right angles to the order contact strips 59a to 39m, as mentioned above, and the contact strip elements 69a to 69g are located opposite the order contact strips 39m and 390. All the contact strips 43 and all the strip segments 69 appear as printed circuit elements on the lower surface of the plate 42". The left-hand ends, as shown, of the conductive strips 43a to 43k are provided with holes 43a to 43k, respectively, which serve to receive the ends of corresponding springs 70a to 7iik, respectively, only one spring 70 being shown in FIG. 3. The various springs 70a to 70k constitute a flexible conductive connection between the respective contact strips 43a to 43k and the corresponding signal output means comprised by the output terminals 36a to 36k, respectively, shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. In order also to connect the contact strip portions 6% to 69g with the left-hand end, as shown, of the plate assembly 42, and from there via connecting springs 84a to 84 flexibly with the signal output terminals 36a to 361", respectively (only one spring connection 84 being shown in FIG. 3), the upper surface of the plate member 42" and the lower and upper surfaces of the other plate 42' ane provided with printed circuit elements as illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6c. The conductive circuit elements 72 to 75 on the upper surface of the plate 42" serve to establish the following connections between contact strip elements:

Strip 72-connects 69a with 69g (related to the function Sign Strip 73-connects 69c with 6% (related to the function sign Strip 74--connects 69d, 69 with 69g (related to the function sign Strip 75-connects 69b, 6% with 691' (related to the function sign Consequently, certain predetermined contact strip elements assigned to certain functions, respectively, as will be explained with reference to FIG. 7, are connected singly or jointly with the terminals 69g, 6% and 69i, respectively.

While the above mentioned holes 43a to 43k of the digit contact strips 43a to 43k, respectively, are accessible for the respective ends of the springs 70a to 70k, respectively, across the corresponding holes 76a to 76k, respectively, of the insulating plate 4 (see also FIG. 3), the function contact strip elements 69a to 69g must be connected for the attachment of the springs 84 by conductive strips 78:: to 78 respectively, shown on the top surface of the plate 42' in FIG. 6a. For this purpose the above mentioned contact strip elements 69g, 69h, 691' are respectively connected from their points 69g, 69h and 69i', respectively, across the holes 79h, 791, 79k, respectively, of the insulating plate 42 and across the corresponding holes 8%, 801', 80k, respectively, of the intermediate plate 68 with the conductive strips 78d, 78e, 78 respectively, which are arranged on the upper surface of the plate 42'. The circuit elements 81, 82, 83 arranged at the lower surface of the plate 42 as shown in FIG. 6a serve similar purposes. In order to explain this, it may be mentioned first that the contact strip elements 69k to 69g are connected conductivcly across the holes 79a to 79g of the plate 42" and across the holes 80a to 80g, respectively, of the plate 68 with the strips or circuit elements 78a to 78g on the upper surface of the plate 42'. The strips 78d to 78g are connected by means of strips 81, 82, 83, respectively, arranged on the lower side of plate 42 with the strips 78a, 78b, 7 80, respectively, and, more particularly, the strip 81 connects the strip 78g with the strip 7 8c, the strip 82 connects the strip 782 with the strip 78b, and the strip 83 connects the strips 78 and 78d with the strip 78a. By means of these connections, certain ones of the contacts of the group 69 are conductively combined with each other so that only six conductive strips 78a and 780 and 78h to 78k are needed for establishing the required connections to the flexible spring connections of the group 84.

As can be seen from FIGS. 6a to 6d, the plates 68 and 42' are cut out with recesses as compared with the plate 42" so that sufficient access is provided for all of the flexible spring connections of the group 70 and of the group 84. The holes 85a and 85b of the plate 42 permit attachment of the respective springs 55a and 55b. The holes 86a and 86b serve as guide ltoles for the above mentioned guide pins 57a and 57b, respectively.

As can be seen from the illustration of the contact strip elements 69a to 69g arranged on the lower surface of the plate 4 and from the arrangement of the interconnecting strips 72 to 75 and 81 to 83, these elements occupy more space in the longitudinal direction of the plate assembly 42 than would correspond to the width of two displaceable members 10 of normal Width. For this reason, and, on the other hand, in order not to depart from the above mentioned favorable arrangement for guiding the individual members 10, one of the members 10, namely, that one which is marked 10 in FIG. 3, is made with a width twice that of the other members 10, as can be seen also from FIG. 4. The function of the individual contact strip elements 69a to 69g will be described further below.

Signal Transmitter As can be seen from FIG. 3 and particularly from FIG. 5, the individual order contact strips 39a to 390 are connected with one of the contact segments 63 to 67, respectively, of the signal transmitter 136 which is of the above mentioned type. Essentially, the signal transmitter 136 comprises (FIGS. 3 and 7) a two-arm rotary contact member 87 which during its rotation about the axis 88 travels with its outer end slidingly over the contact segments 63 to 67, while its opposite end 87a travels slidingly along a contact ring 65' which is connected by the segment or terminal 65 to zero potential. Consequently, upon the rotation of the member 87, all the contact segments 63 to 67 are consecutively connected with zero potential whereby electrical signal impulses are produced in the manner described further below, the duration of each signal impulse depending upon the rotary speed of the contact member 37.

The rotary member 87 is caused to rotate by a motor 33 via gears 35 and 34, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The motor 33 is mounted on a. base plate 89 which, in turn, is mounted by means of bolts 90a and 90b on the base plate 91 of the attachment 3. The power supply for the motor and its control will be described later.

Electric Circuit Diagram The circuit diagram FIG. 7 illustrates the entire circuitry of the signal transmitting arrangement according to the invention. The lower portion of FIG. 7 contains a diagrammatic illustration of the essential portions of the multiple switch device 1 to the degree necessary :for the purpose of explanation.

The digit contact strips 43a to 43k traverse the order contact strips 39a to 39m. 'The contact strip elements cooperating with the movable members 10 handling the function data and marked 39n and 390 are shown separately, and the same applies to the contact strip elements 6% to 69: As mentioned above, the digit contact strips 43a to 43k as well as the contact strip elements 69a to 69q are applied as a printed circuit arrangement to the lower surface of the plate assembly 42 (see FIGS. 6a to 6d)- The contact strips 39a to 390 and their connections with the contact segments 64a to 640, respectively, of the signal transmitter 136 are illustrated in detail in FIG. 5, and are repeated diagrammatically in FIG. 7. In the space between the digit contact strips 43a to 43k and the contact strip element 69a 69g, on the one hand, and the contact strips 3% to 390, on the other hand, the interconnecting displaceaible contact carrier members 10 are movable as described above together with their contact member assemblies 37. One member 10 is shown in FIG. 7 superimposed over the associated contact strip 3%. Its contact member assembly 37 establishes a conductive connection between the digit contact strip 43i and the order contact strip 3%. The point of contact is marked with 200. As has been stated above, all of the contact member assemblies 37 are capable of establishing conductive contact between the individual digit contact strips 43 and the order contact strips 39 at the respective crossing points thereof, and also contact between contact strip elements 69a to 69g and the order contact strips 3911 and 390, depending upon the displacement of the respective members 10, provided that the plate assembly 42 is lowered into operative position, as mentioned above.

The digit contact strips 43a to 43k are, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6a to 6d, connected with the signal output terminals 36a to 36k, respectively, while the contact strip elements 69a to 6911 are similarly connected with the output terminals 36a to 36i, respectively. The rotary arm 87 of the signal transmitter 136 travels in sliding contact of its portion 87a over the contact ring 65 and with its outer end over the contact segments 63 to 67. The shaft 88 is indicated by the dash-dotted line which connects the arm 87 with the motor 33.

The whole circuit arrangement of the signal transmitting device is connected via fuses 102 and 103 and input terminals and 13-1 to a source of alternating line potential. The motor 101 of the calculating machine 2 which energizes the operational cycle thereof is controllable by the two-pole single throw switch 132, 133 for being connected to the power supply upon operation of the function key 100. Since at this moment the normally open relay contact 0 operable by the relay coil C is still in open position, the motor circuit is closed after the operation of the switch 132, 133 via the change-over relay contact [2 However, now the relay coil C is energized via the junction points 134 and 135 so that hereby both its related contacts c and 0 are moved to closed position. Now the closed contact c functions as holding contact as long as the switch 132, 133 is in closed position whereby the motor 101, disregarding the operative condition of the relay containing the coil B, is directly connected to the power supply. The contact c when closed, prepares at this point the later completion of the circuit for the motor 33 which drives the signal transmitter 136. In addition, the primary winding 104' of the transformer 104- is connected by the closed contact 0 with line voltage.

The transformer 104 comprises two separate secondary windings 104a and 10417. The rectifier 105 connected to the secondary 104a supplies the relay coils A and B as well as the switch magnet 47. The condenser 107 serves to smooth the rectified current. The secondary winding 10417 feeds via the diode 106 and the smoothing condenser 108, the two relay coils H and Z the function whereof will be explained further below. By means of interconnected resistances, as shown, the required potential difierence between the two power supply systems is established.

The connections between the digit contact strips 43b to 43k and the output terminals 36b to 36k, respectively, are respectively connected with the relay coil H across diodes 170 so that the relay coil H is energized every time when a signal impulse is delivered from the above mentioned output terminals 36b to 36k. All the diodes 170 are connected in parallel and this parallel combmation is connected via relay contacts h and a.; with zero potential available at the junction point 1'50. Moreover, FIG. 7 shows an operating magnet K which may be for instance arranged to actuate a key in a printmg apparatus to be controlled at long distance by the signal transmitting arrangement according to the invention every time when a signal impulse is transmitted to that magnet. The signal impulse current is provided by a storage battery 152. The terminal 153 symbolizes the zero terminal or plug of a multiple plug in which all the plugs 153 to 169 are structurally combined. As can be seen, these plugs are respectively related to the output terminals 36a to 36k and 36a to 36i', respectively.

In order to describe an example of operation, reference is made to the position of one movable member 10 as shown in FIG. 7'in which case a contact point 200 is established. Therefore, after the plurality of digit contact strips 43 is lowered to the operative position thereof by means of the magnet, the following signal circuit is established: terminal of the battery 152, magnet coil K, plug 162, digit contact strip 43i, contact point 200, contact segment 64c, contact arm 87, contact ring 65, junction point 150 and back to the zero plug 153 connected with the terminal of the battery 152. In similar manner, each of the various displaceable members 10 is capable of selecting such a signal circuit. During the rotation of the contact arm 87, the various signal impulse circuits are consecutively closed.

Operation Be it assumed that the data to be transmitted by the signal transmitting arrangement according to the invention are introduced into the calculating machine by operating its keyboard so that the corresponding pins 17 of the pin carriage 18 are moved into operative position. Now, by actuating a function key 100, the power supply switch 132, 133 is moved to closed position and the motor 101 of the calculating machine is started while at the same time the coil C is energized, both via the changeover switch contact b The motor 101 now causes the calculating machine to carry out its operational cycle. The energization of the coil C causes closing of the contacts and 0 whereby also the winding 104' of the power supply transformer 104 is connected to the line. The actuators 11 of the calculating machine 2 are released, as described, by the movement of the cross piece 23a of the bar 23 and carry out, under the action of the spring 27, a turning movement in clockwise direction, as shown, until they are respectively stopped by one or the other of the pins 17, e.g. 17a in operative position. In accordance with this movement, the respective movable members are shifted or displaced from their normal position by the action of the corresponding connecting rods 13 and related bell-crank levers 12. As soon as the required number of movable members .10 is displaced, the outer end of the cam portion 19a of the cam disk 19 reaches its top position and actuates the microswitch 29 (see FIG. 7).

By the action of the switch 29, the relay coil A is energized so that the associated contacts a to a are moved to closed position. The contact a closes the circuit for the magnet 47 which causes the plate assembly 42 to move to its lower operative position whereby the various members 10 displaced to selected positions are locked in their respective positions by the registering bar 58, and at the same time conductive connections are established between the digit contact strips 43 and the respective contact, member assemblies 37 of the members 10.

Via contact a and the normally closed'contact 2 the coil A holds itself enengized. The contact a also causes energization of the relay coil B while the contact (1.; prepares for future completion a separate circuit to be described later in connection with the elimination of zeros.

Since there is no mechanical connection between the various bell-crank levers 12 and the associated members 10, but only an abutting engagement, the calculating machine is capable to continue and to complete its operational cycle regardless of the fact that the various mem bers 10 are locked in their respective selected positions.

As stated above, the relay coil B has been energized. The contact b associated therewith changes to its second position and the contact b and the contact b move to closed position. The power supply to the transformer 104 is maintained via the contact 12 in its second position and the now closed contact b even if the main switch 132, 133 moves to open position after the completion of the operational cycle of the machine, in which case the coil C is dc-energized. The now closed contact b starts the motor 33 for driving the signal transmitter 136 and the rotary contact arm 87 thereof starts rotation in counterclockwise direction so as to connect consecutively the contact segments 63 to 67 of the signal transmitter 136 with the contact ring 65 which is connected with Zero potential. In this manner consecutively all the signal impulse circuits pre-selected by the characteristic displacement of the members 10 are closed so that the desired operating magnets K of the device serviced by this arrangement are consecutively energized in the correct order sequence of the number digits comprised in the data to be transmitted.

Before the rotary member 87 returns to its normal position on the segment 65, it passes over the contact segment 66 whereby a circuit for a relay coil Z is closed. The coil Z is thereby energized and causes opening of the normally closed contact z whereby the relay coil A is de-ener-gized. Therefore, the contacts a a a and a move to open position. The magnet 47 is also de-enengized so that the plate assembly 42 is lifted by its springs 55a and' 55b into its normal upper position. The registering bar 58 unblocks the various members 10 which are now returned to their normal or starting position by the respective return springs 16'. The relay coil B is not yet de-energized because it is still held energized by the now closed contact z The relay coil B will be de-energized only when the contact arm 87 leaves or disengages the contact segment 66. Only now the contact b and b move to open condition and stop the mo-tor 33 and disconnect the power supply for the arrangement. The contact b moves back to its original position and now the calculating machine is again in con dition to be started.

Zero Elimination The circuit arrangement according to FIG. 7 is also suitable for carrying out zero elimination. The digit zero is represented operatively in the arrangement by the digit contact strip 43a associated therewith. The arrangement is such that this digit con-tact strip 43a is in conductive contact with the contact member assemblies 37 belonging to those members 10 which have not been displaced from normal position. This is the case, for instance, when data are to be transmitted comprising a number having digits in less than twelve order positions. Consequently, those members It which are associated with order position channels which in this case remain idle, would remain in their normal position and their respective contact member assembly 37 would establish contact with the digit contact st-rip 43a when the plate assembly 42 is lowered into operative position by the magnet 47. In order to prevent the issue of zero signals ahead of the actual digits of the number to be transmitted, a normally open contact h operated by the relay coil H is arranged in the connecting line between the output 1 1 l l 1 l 13 terminal 36a and the digit contact strip 43a. This contact h prevents the issue :of Zero signals as long as the relay coil H has not been energized. Since the coil H is connected with the output terminals 36b to 36k, i.e. only with those digit contact strips related to digits different from zero, the relay coil H will be energized only as soon as the first digit different from zero is transmitted to the device by corresponding displacement of a member 10, in which case the relay coil H energized via any one of the diodes 17d} maintains itself energized via the contact h because also the relay coil A has been energized so as to close the contact a.;. Consequently, the contact h is in closed position. It now, after the first digit different from zero has been introduced, further zero values are introduced then these Zero signal impulses can be transmitted via the now closed contact k The whole Zero elimination arrangement is disconnected by the contact a, as soon as the relay coil A is de-enertgized.

Function Control For transmitting signal impulses representing functions as defined at the outset of this specification, the two contact strip portions 39n and 390 are provided in connection with the contact strip elements 69a to 69g. Unless a movable member of double width is provided as described above and illustrated for instance in FIG. 4, then two neighboring members 10, as intimated by the showing in the right hand bottom corner of FIG. 7 would have to be used, but they should be coupled with each other so that either the double-width member 10' or the last mentioned two coupled members 10 are used for handling functions. In the circuit diagram of FIG. 7, the functions are diagrammatically referred to the corresponding function symbols apposed to the corresponding connection lines which emanate from the respective contact elements of the group 69. More details of this portion of the operation and arrangement are described in my copending application, Serial No. 848,321, filed October 23, 1959, under the title Central Intelligence Exchange Arrangement.

'It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of business machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a multiple switch device for electrical business machines, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any 'way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Signal transmitting means adapted to be mechanically controlled by a calculating machine for producing signals representing digital and/or other data furnished by said calculating machine, the latter having individually movable actuator members respectively associated with said different data, comprising, in combination,

(a) multiple switch means comprising (1) first contact means including a first plate member and a predetermined number of first contact strips extending parallel with each other along one face of said first plate member and an equal number of contact segments respectively connected with said first contact strips and mounted along a circular are on said first plate member;

(2) second contact means including a second plate member arranged parallel with, and spaced from, said first plate member, and a predetermined number of second contact strips extending in a direction transverse of that of said first contact strips on a face of said second plate member facing said one face of said first plate member, said second plate member being movably and resiliently supported for permitting change of its distance from said first plate member by movement from a normal first position to a second position;

(3) a plurality of elongated interconnecting contact carrier means extending parallel with said first contact strips and respectively associated therewith, said contact carrier means being arranged between said first contact strips, respectively, and said second contact strips and being individually movable longitudinally along said first contact strips, respectively, between a plurality of selectable positions, each of said contact carrier means being insulated from the other ones thereof and carrying a first contact member in sliding contact with the associated first contact strip, and a second contact member conductively connected with said first contact member and arranged to make contact with any one of said second contact strips depending upon the selected position to which the particular contact carrier means has been moved, provided that said second plate member is moved to said second position thereof;

(b) guide means for said interconnecting contact carrier means comprising a box-like structure having top and bottom walls in contact with and slidingly guiding said contact carrier means along said walls, and having side walls spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the sum of the transverse dimensions of said contact carrier means and just sufficient to permit sliding movement of said contact carrier means relative to each other;

(c) electromagnetic means for moving said second plate member from said normal first position in which said second contact strips are out of engagement with said second contact members of said contact carrier means, and said second position in which each of said second contact strips are in engagement with a different one of said second contact members, respectively, irrespective of the actual longitudinal position of the individual contact carrier means;

(d) operating means comprising a plurality of operating members for mechanically moving said interconnecting contact means, respectively, individually and selectively from a normal position into any one of said selectable positions, said operating means comprising a plurality of linkage means adapted to connect operatively each of said operating members, respectively, with a different one of the movable actuator members of the calculating machine in such a manner that each of said selectable positions corresponds to a different position of said actuator members, respectively;

(e) first control means for actuating said electromagnetic means when said contact carrier means are in said selectable position, respectively;

(1) signal transmitting means comprising rotary switch means connected with one terminal of a source of electric energy and arranged to contact sequentially, when rotated, said contact segments of said first plate member;

(g) drive means for rotating said rotary switch means;

(h) second control means cooperating with said first control means for actuating said drive means after said first control means have actuated said electromagnetic means and after said second plate member has been moved to said second position thereof;

(i) a plurality of output means connected with said second contact strips, respectively, and adapted to transmit signals depending upon said selected positions of said contact carrier members in the sequence of engagement of said rotary switch means with said contact segments, respectively, to input terminals of electrically operable devices connected at their respective other terminals with the other terminal of said source of energy; and

(k) comparatively shallow housing means surrounding all of said means and adapted to be attached from underneath to the calculating machine so as to support the latter.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting contact carrier means are slidable bar members formed with recesses at predetermined portions of its length, and wherein for each of said bar members a contact member assembly is provided carrying said first and second contact members, said assembly being lodged in said recesses so that only said contact members project from the respective surfaces of said bar member.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of operating members comprises a plurality of levers supported in said housing means for being movable independently from each other relative to said box-like structure, each lever having one portion abutting against a portion of the respectively associated contact carrier bar members, another portion of each of said con-tact carrier bar members being pivotally connected with the respective one of said linkage means, and the top wall of said box-like structure being provided with a plurality of slots acco-modating and guiding said levers, respectively, extending partly through said slots, a guiding projection being arranged at one end of each of said slots and projecting toward the associated contact carrier bar member and slidingly engaging the latter as an upper guide thereof.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive means comprise an electric motor connected with an outside source of electric energy and gear transmission means for transmitting rotary motion from said motor to said rotary switch means.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said contact member assembly is formed as an integral metal part comprising a first oblong resilient portion extending along the lower surface of the associated bar member and carrying on its outer surface and projecting therefrom said first contact member, a second oblong resilient portion extending along the upper surface of the associated bar member and carrying on its outer surface and projecting therefrom said second contact member, and a connecting portion connecting said first and second resilient portions, all of said portions being lodged in said recesses in such a manner that the whole assembly is held gnly through its resiliency in position on said bar mem- 6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein return springs are provided for returning said bar members, respectively, from any of said displaced positions to a normal position of rest, an attaching portion being provided at one end of each bar member remote from the location of said contact member assembly, said return springs being attached to a stationary point at one end and to said attaching portions of said bar members, respectively, at the other end, said attaching portion being formed to act as a sliding support of the respective bar member at said one end thereof.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said attaching portion is formed as a sliding support of said bar member for slidingly supporting said one end thereof on the bottom wall of said box-like structure,

to while the opposite end portion of said bar member is slidingly supported by said first contact member thereof slidingly supported by the respectively associated first contact strip.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, including bumper means interposed between a stationary member of said box-like structure and a portion of said bar member for determining said normal position of rest thereof and for absorbing shocks when said bar member is returned by one of said return springs to said normal position.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of first contact strip means and a, plurality of contact segments forming part of said signal transmitter means are assembled as a first plate member carrying said strip means and said contact segments respectively connected with each other as printed circuit components.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said plurality of first contact strips and said plurality of said contact segments and connections between a selected number of said first contact strips and the associated contact segments, respectively, are arranged as printed circuit components on one face of said first plate member, while the connections between the remaining first contact strips with the respectively associated contact segments are arranged as printed circuit components along the opposite face of said first plate member, an insulating layer being provided to cover said last mentioned printed circuit components.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of second contact strip means is assembled as a second plate member carrying said second strip means as printed circuit components, said second plate member being movable between said first and second postions ofsaid second contact strip means.

12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second plate member is composed of at least three superimposed layers of insulating material, the first of said layers being provided on its outside face with said second contact strips as printed circuit components, connections between a selected number of said second contact strips being arranged as printed circuit components along the rear surface of said first layer, the third one of said three layers being provided on its outer face with other connections between said selected number of said second contact strips and output lines connected to the same, respectively, in the form of printed circuit components, and the opposite face of said third layer being provided with further connections between said selected number of said second contact strips also in the form of printed circuit components.

13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein a normally open control switch is provided in circuit with said electromagnet means, said switch being arranged and adapted to be operated by a moving member of the calculating machine capable of moving said switch to closed position when substantially one half of an operational cycle of the calculating machine is completed.

14. An arrangement 'as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first operating means include electromagnet means arranged above said second plate member and having a plunger-type armature means movable in direction perpendicular to said second plate member between a normal upper position when said electromagnet means is unenergized, and a lower position when said electromagnet means is energized, said second plate member being suspended by spring means from said electromagnet means, said armature means being in abutting engagement with said second plate member for transferring the movements of said armature means to said second plate member, said electromagnet means being operatively connected with said business machine for being controlled by the latter depending upon the operational cycle thereof.

15. An arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein said bar members are provided along their upper surface *ith respectively identical series of evenly spaced notches, 1e spacing and number thereof corresponding to the pacing and number of said first contact strip means, nd wherein a registering and locking member is atached to the lower surface of said second plate mem- )61' and projecting therefrom in such a position that when laid second plate member is moved to said second posizion thereof said registering and locking member engages said notches of all ofi said bar members and thereby locks the latter in register with each other in their normal positions as well as in any of said displaced positions to which one or more of them may have been moved.

16. An arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein guide means are provided on said electrocooperating magnet means and on said second plate member for causing the latter to remain parallel with itself during its movement between said first position and said second position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS July 1, 1919 =1,308,441 Myers 1,864,125 Dowd June 21, 1932 2,861,739 Chall et 'al Nov. 25, 1958 Mar. 8, 1960 2,927,729 Boyden et a1 

1. SIGNAL TRANSMITTING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE MECHANICALLY CONTROLLED BY A CALCULATING MACHINE FOR PRODUCING SIGNALS REPRESENTING DIGITAL AND/OR OTHER DATA FURNISHED BY SAID CALCULATING MACHINE, THE LATTER HAVING INDIVIDUALLY MOVABLE ACTUATOR MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID DIFFERENT DATA, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, (A) MULTIPLE SWITCH MEANS COMPRISING (1) FIRST CONTACT MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST PLATE MEMBER AND A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF FIRST CONTACT STRIPS EXTENDING PARALLEL WITH EACH OTHER ALONG ONE FACE OF SAID FIRST PLATE MEMBER AND AN EQUAL NUMBER OF CONTACT SEGMENTS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID FIRST CONTACT STRIPS AND MOUNTED ALONG A CIRCULAR ARC ON SAID FIRST PLATE MEMBER; (2) SECOND CONTACT MEANS INCLUDING A SECOND PLATE MEMBER ARRANGED PARALLEL WITH, AND SPACED FROM, SAID FIRST PLATE MEMBER, AND A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF SECOND CONTACT STRIPS EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE OF THAT OF SAID FIRST CONTACT STRIPS ON A FACE OF SAID SECOND PLATE MEMBER FACING SAID ONE FACE OF SAID FIRST PLATE MEMBER, SAID SECOND PLATE MEMBER BEING MOVABLY AND RESILIENTLY SUPPORTED FOR PERMITTING CHANGE OF ITS DISTANCE FROM SAID FIRST PLATE MEMBER BY MOVEMENT FROM A NORMAL FIRST POSITION TO A SECOND POSITION; (3) A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED INTERCONNECTING CONTACT CARRIER MEANS EXTENDING PARALLEL WITH SAID FIRST CONTACT STRIPS AND RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, SAID CONTACT CARRIER MEANS BEING ARRANGED BETWEEN SAID FIRST CONTACT STRIPS, RESPECTIVELY, AND SAID SECOND CONTACT STRIPS AND BEING INDIVIDUALLY MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID FIRST CONTACT STRIPS, RESPECTIVELY, BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF SELECTABLE POSITIONS, EACH OF SAID CONTACT CARRIER MEANS BEING INSULATED FROM THE OTHER ONES THEREOF AND CARRYING A FIRST CONTACT MEMBER IN SLIDING CONTACT WITH THE ASSOCIATED FIRST CONTACT STRIP, AND A SECOND CONTACT MEMBER CONDUCTIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID FIRST CONTACT MEMBER AND ARRANGED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH ANY ONE OF SAID SECOND CONTACT STRIPS DEPENDING UPON THE SELECTED POSITION TO WHICH THE PARTICULAR CONTACT CARRIER MEANS HAS BEEN MOVED, PROVIDED THAT SAID SECOND PLATE MEMBER IS MOVED TO SAID SECOND POSITION THEREOF; (B) GUIDE MEANS FOR SAID INTERCONNECTING CONTACT CARRIER MEANS COMPRISING A BOX-LIKE STRUCTURE HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS IN CONTACT WITH AND SLIDINGLY GUIDING SAID CONTACT CARRIER MEANS ALONG SAID WALLS, AND HAVING SIDE WALLS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE SUM OF THE TRANSVERSE DIMENSIONS OF SAID CONTACT CARRIER MEANS AND JUST SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTACT CARRIER MEANS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER; (C) ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SECOND PLATE MEMBER FROM SAID NORMAL FIRST POSITION IN WHICH SAID SECOND CONTACT STRIPS ARE OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECOND CONTACT MEMBERS OF SAID CONTACT CARRIER MEANS, AND SAID SECOND POSITION IN WHICH EACH OF SAID SECOND CONTACT STRIPS ARE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID SECOND CONTACT MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE ACTUAL LONGITUDINAL POSITION OF THE INDIVIDUAL CONTACT CARRIER MEANS; (D) OPERATING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF OPERATING MEMBERS FOR MECHANICALLY MOVING SAID INTERCONNECTING CONTACT MEANS, RESPECTIVELY, INDIVIDUALLY AND SELECTIVELY FROM A NORMAL POSITION INTO ANY ONE OF SAID SELECTABLE POSITIONS, SAID OPERATING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LINKAGE MEANS ADAPTED TO CONNECT OPERATIVELY EACH OF SAID OPERATING MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY, WITH A DIFFERENT ONE OF THE MOVABLE ACTUATOR MEMBERS OF THE CALCULATING MACHINE IN SUCH A MANNER THAT EACH OF SAID SELECTABLE POSITIONS CORRESPONDS TO A DIFFERENT POSITION OF SAID ACTUATOR MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY; (E) FIRST CONTROL MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS WHEN SAID CONTACT CARRIER MEANS ARE IN SAID SELECTABLE POSITION, RESPECTIVELY; (F) SIGNAL TRANSMITTING MEANS COMPRISING ROTARY SWITCH MEANS CONNECTED WITH ONE TERMINAL OF A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY AND ARRANGED TO CONTACT SEQUENTIALLY, WHEN ROTATED, SAID CONTACT SEGMENTS OF SAID FIRST PLATE MEMBER; (G) DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID ROTARY SWITCH MEANS; (H) SECOND CONTROL MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID DRIVE MEANS AFTER SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS HAVE ACTUATED SAID ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS AND AFTER SAID SECOND PLATE MEMBER HAS BEEN MOVED TO SAID SECOND POSITION THEREOF; (I) A PLURALITY OF OUTPUT MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID SECOND CONTACT STRIPS, RESPECTIVELY, AND ADAPTED TO TRANSMIT SIGNALS DEPENDING UPON SAID SELECTED POSITIONS OF SAID CONTACT CARRIER MEMBERS IN THE SEQUENCE OF ENGAGEMENT OF SAID ROTARY SWITCH MEANS WITH SAID CONTACT SEGMENTS, RESPECTIVELY, TO INPUT TERMINALS OF ELECTRICALLY OPERABLE DEVICES CONNECTED AT THEIR RESPECTIVE OTHER TERMINALS WITH THE OTHER TERMINAL OF SAID SOURCE OF ENERGY; AND (K) COMPARATIVELY SHALLOW HOUSING MEANS SURROUNDING ALL OF SAID MEANS AND ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED FROM UNDERNEATH TO THE CALCULATING MACHINE SO AS TO SUPPORT THE LATTER. 